Caespitose perennial herbs with short rhizomes, erect stems and wiry roots. Primary stems simple, producing shorter lateral branches in later seasons. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear, the bases closely sheathing the stem and imbricate. Flowers bisexual, small, clustered in reduced bracteate cymes or racemes, terminal to short branches or in upper axils. Sepals and petals shortly united, almost equal, petaloid, opening widely, persistent beneath fruit. Stamens inserted on perianth; anthers small, not apiculate. Ovary 3-locular; ovule 1 per locule; style as long as or shorter than stamens; stigma simple. Fruit a capsule, muricate or verrucose, rarely smooth. Seeds spherical or ellipsoidal, golden-brown.
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